As a parent, you know how important it is to teach your kids about health and wellness. There are dozens of viruses and types of bacteria floating around schools, daycare centers and everywhere else your children go on a daily basis, making them highly susceptible to catching something and ending up bedridden.
Flu season is always a good time to teach your kids about immune system protection, but this year it's even more critical. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17,101 laboratory-confirmed hospitalizations associated with the influenza have been reported during the 2018 flu season - from October 2017 to February 2018 - so far. Unfortunately, the virus has claimed the lives of at least 37 children in the country, as reported by CNN, and this season is only expected to get worse before it comes to an end.
To ensure your children leave the house and return in the utmost health, you must encourage them to take care of their immunity and follow habits that build the body's defense mechanism and self-healing abilities. Here are a few effective ways to keep your kids' immune systems strong:
Teach Them How to Wash Their Hands Properly
Your children may find it silly that you want to go over handwashing tips with them, but it doesn't hurt to brush up on a helpful routine that can effectively prevent the spread of germs. Here is the simple five-step procedure recommended by the CDC:

- Use warm or cold running water to wet your hands. Turn off the faucet, then apply soap.
- Rub your hands together to lather up the soap, being conscious about cleaning between the fingers and under the nails.
- Scrub your hands for about 20 seconds.
- Turn the faucet back on and rinse under clean water.
- Use a clean towel or air dryer to dry hands.
